Brignall Banks

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox protected area

| name = Brignall Banks

| iucn_category =

| photo =

| photo_caption =

| map = United Kingdom County Durham

| map_image =

| map_size = 243

| map_caption = Site of Special Scientific Interest

| relief = 1

| location = [https://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271000233%27 MAGiC MaP]

| nearest_city =

| nearest_town = Barnard Castle

| coordinates = {{coord|54|29|51|N|1|54|12|W|display=inline,title}}

| coords_ref =

| area_ha = 89.4

| established = 1987

| governing_body = Natural England

| website = [https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteDetail.aspx?SiteCode=S1000233&SiteName=brignall%20banks&countyCode=&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= Brignall Banks SSSI]

| embedded =

}}

Brignall Banks is a Site of Special Scientific Interest in the Teesdale district of south-west County Durham, England.

It consists of a narrow belt of woodland on the steep slopes of the valleys of the River Greta

and its tributary, Gill Beck, just west of Brignall village and about 6 km south of Barnard Castle.

{{cite web

|url=https://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271000233%27

|title=MAGiC MaP : Brignall Banks SSSI |publisher=Natural England - Magic in the Cloud Service }}

It is one of the largest expanses of semi-natural woodland in North-east England; a number of scarce species are present,

indicating that it is ancient woodland.

{{cite web

|url=https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/PDFsForWeb/Citation/1000233.pdf

|title=Brignall Banks : Reasons for designating the SSSI |publisher=Natural England |access-date= 1 March 2022}}

A varied lichen flora includes several species that are sensitive to air pollution and rare in County Durham,

including some, such as Thelotrema lepadinum and Graphis scripta,

that are indicator species for ancient woodland.

In the Natural England database of ancient woodlands, it is recorded as part of Mill Wood, which is split into 95.6 ha south of the Greta and 19.2 ha north of the Greta.{{cite web|url=https://naturalengland-defra.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/ancient-woodland-england/explore?filters=eyJBUkVBIjpbMTAsNzE5LjQyNzE2MTEwMzc2OF19&location=54.492920%2C-1.908888%2C13.94|website=Natural England|date=24 May 2024|access-date=24 September 2024|title=Ancient Woodlands (England)|at=54.5N, 1.9W}}